Actor and politician Kamal Haasan addressed the controversy over his recent comment on the Kannada language, clarifying on Wednesday that his statement was misunderstood and not intended to hurt anyone. The Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) leader said his words came from a place of affection and were based on what he had learnt from language historians.

According to News 18 report, Haasan stood by his statement made at a film event in Chennai, where he said that "Tamil gave birth to Kannada," a remark that triggered protests and sharp criticism in Karnataka. The News 18 report cited Hassan as stating, “What I said was said out of love, with a lot of historians teaching me language history. I will not apologise for something I said out of love.”

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He also pointed to Tamil Nadu’s inclusive political past, stating that people from different communities, including Menon, Reddy and even Kannadigas, have served as Chief Ministers in the state. “Tamil Nadu has always shown acceptance and diversity in leadership,” he said.

Recalling a time when he received support from Karnataka during challenges in Chennai, Haasan added, “Karnataka stood with me when I faced problems. I have not forgotten that.”

The backlash began after his statement at the audio launch of his upcoming film Thug Life. Following the event, several pro-Kannada groups expressed anger, accusing Haasan of disrespecting the Kannada language and its cultural heritage.

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One of the prominent groups, Karnataka Rakshana Vedike, led by Praveen Shetty, filed a police complaint in Bengaluru. The complaint alleged that Haasan’s statement had hurt the sentiments of the Kannada-speaking population and could lead to conflict between the Tamil and Kannada communities.

Protests have since erupted across various parts of Karnataka, including in Bengaluru, Belagavi, Mysuru and Hubballi. Demonstrators have demanded an apology and condemned Haasan’s comment as offensive.